Collapsible container



W. A. NELSON COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER July 2, 1957 Filed Sept. 17, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet l IINVENITORQ Wa/fel' a Ale/s0 17M 6 W Arrow/5k July 2,1957 WQA. NELSON 2,797,524

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Sept. 17, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IN VENTOR. Wal/zr 62 Nelsen A rrok/vEy;

United States Patent COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Walter A. Nelson, KansasCity, Mo.

Application September 17, 1954, Serial No. 456,300

6 Claims. (Cl. 4355) This invention relates to containers and refersmore particularly to a collapsible container equipped with buoyant meansfor causing it to float on top of a body of water. The container isspecially suitable for fisherman and other outdoor sportsmen, beingcapable of serving either as a live bait holder or as a container forstoring the catch in a live condition.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described which is readily collapsed from an open box-likecharacter to a flat compact arrangement easily carried from place toplace and taking little space for storage. The unique feature of theinvention is the quick and facile manner in which it can be unfolded andagain collapsed. One person can accomplish either with no difliculty andthe container is self locking in the open or expanded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a container which althoughconstructed of sturdy and long wearing material is sufiiciently buoyantto stay on or near the surface of a body of water with the main portionof the container submerged. My container folded or unfolded will notsink, and it may conveniently be moored to a boat by a line during use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described which, although collapsible, is sufliciently rigidwhen in its folded or extended condition to serve as a stout box capableof supporting on its top considerable weight.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a container of thecharacter described which is easily manufactured, is composed ofinexpensive material and which is safe and fool-proof in operation.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of and are to be read inconjunction with the instant specification, and in which like referencenumerals indicate like parts in the various views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of my inventionin its folded or collapsed condition;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1,but in its unfolded or expanded condition and ready for use;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the unit showing the relativedisposition of the parts at an intermediate phase during transitionbetween the expanded or unfolded condition and folded or collapsedcondition;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in thedirection of the arrows, and shows also in the broken lines the relativedisposition of the side walls and bottom at still another point in thetransition from collapsed to expanded condition;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 5-"5 of Fig. 2in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. '6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line '66 of Fig.'2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective of a modification of the intermediatecoupling :between the adjacent hinged panels of the side members.

. Referring to the drawings and initially to Fig. 1, in

its preferred form my container, when expanded, takes the form of anelongate rectangular box having top 10, sides 11, ends 12 and a bottom13. The top is formed of two substantially square hollow rectangularcells 10a and 10b disposed end to end, the adjacent ends being providedwith recessed portions which complement one another to form an oval topopening. Preferably, the hollow sections 10a and 10b are formed frommetal sheet and are airtight. They are hingedly connected with oneanother on each side by pins 14 which pivotally secure together arms 15aand 15b welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the sides of the sections10a and 10b and depending therebelow (see Fig. 3).

The end members 12 are swingably connected with the respective sections10a and 10b on hangers 16 depending from and secured to the endsthereof. Each end member is preferably constructed of a plurality ofrectangular slats 17 spaced from one another to provide guideways orslots 18 therebetween. The upper end of each slat 17 is provided withspaced ears 17a curled at their ends around. a pin which is rotatablycarried by the corresponding hanger 16 so that the slats are swingableabout the pin axis. The slats 17 are locked together in a common planeso as to form a rigid unit by a locking member 19 bent around and weldedor otherwise secured to the lower ends thereof (see Fig. 5).

The bottom 13, like the top 10, is constructed of two hingedly connectedsections 13a and 13b. Each section 13a and 13b is substantially equal indimensions with the dimensions of the corresponding top section 10a or1% and the bottom sections are hingedly connected by hinges 20 along anaxis located at the same distance intermediate the ends as the hingeaxis for the top. The opposite ends of the bottom 13 are slidablyconnected with the end members 12 by means of tongues 21 which projectoutwardly through the gui-deways or slots 18. Preferably, tongues 21 areformed of rods which are bent double and welded to the upper and lowersurfaces of the respective bottom sections 13a and 131) (see Fig. 5).Each tongue is formed with an eye through which is passed a removablelatching bolt or rod 22 as shown in Fig. 2. Rod 22 is slidably receivedin the eyes of the tongues 21 and is provided with a hooked end 22ahaving a jogged portion adapted to engage the endmost tongue 18 andreleasably lock the rod in engagement with the tongues.

As is best seen in Fig. 2, the sides 11 are each constructed-of fourrectangular panel sections 11a, 11b, 11c, and 11a. The panels are ofsubstantially equal length with the top sections 10a and 10b, and theupper panels 11a and 11b are hingedly secured thereto by hangers orbrackets 23. Preferably, the hinge connection is made by means of a rod24 secured to the upper edge of each of the panel sections 11a and 11b,the hangers 23 encircling the rods at spaced intervals through apertures25.

The lower panels and 11d are hingedly connected respectively with theupper panels 11a and 11b, preferably by means of a conventionalleaf-type hinge connection having the interlacing lugs 26 through whichpasses a common hinge pin 27. It will be noted that the panels 11:: and11c are hinged together independently of the panels 11b and 11d, theends of the respective hinge pins 27 adjacent the center of the sidemember being spaced from one another. Likewise the adjacent ends of theupper panels 10a and 10b and lower panels 110 and 11d are spaced fromone another. To connect these ends, there is provided a web of flexiblematerial 28 such as a rubberized canvas which is secured to the ends ofthe panels by any suitable means, for example, staples 29 (see Fig. 6).

in a modified form of the invention, the flexible web 28 is replaced bya loose male and female coupling at the center of each of the fourpanels making up the side member as is illustrated in Fig. 7. On the endof one of the hinge rods 27' there is provided a bell-shaped member 30in which is received the adjacent end of the other hinge rod. Thefunction of the'web 28, or the alternative type of connectionillustrated in Fig. 7, will be explained in the course of describing theoperation of the unit.

The lower edges of each of the lower side panels 11c and 11d arehingedly connected with the side edges of the bottom sections 13a and1312 by a hinge connection similar to that between the upper and lowerside panels.

The side panels 11a, 11b,'11c and 11:! are restrained from flexingoutwardly about their hinge axes 27 by the inwardly directed flanges 17bon the outermost end slats 17. The weight of the container, when restingupon a fiat surface, is borne by the end members 12 which are preventedfrom swinging about their pivot axes by the tongue and slot connectionwith the bottom member 13. It will thus be understood that so long asthe bottom 13 remains spaced below the top, the ends 12 will remainnormal to the top and the box cannot and will not collapse.

To provide means for transporting and conveniently handling thecontainer, there are provided two generally U-shaped pivotal bail typehandles 3]. fitted at their centers with hand grips 32, in this instanceof wood. The ends of each handle are pivotally secured to the sides ofits respective top section 101: or b in bosses 33, the ends of thehandles being bent and inserted in holes in the bosses.

A swingahle cover 34 is pivotally secured to the top section 10!; byhinge 35. The cover is preferably formed from a thin sheet of a springymetal, for example, steel, and is retained in its open position by afixed dog 36. A pivotal latch 37 is provided on the opposite side of thetop opening for engaging the end of the cover when it is swung to theclosed position. To close the cover, it is first sprung or bowedoutwardly at its center to slip the edge out from under the dog 36, andthen it is brought to a position covering the opening. The pivotal latch37 can subsequently be engaged to releasobly lock the cover in thecovering position.

To collapse the container is a simple and quickly accomplishedprocedure. First the container is inverted (top to bottom). A slightshake in the inverted position causes the sides 11 to collapse inwardly(Fig. 4, viewed upside down), the upper and lower panels 11a, 11b, 11cand 11d folding inwardly about their respective hinge axes and thebottom 13 moving toward the top guided by the tongues 21 in slots 3.3.As the bottom 13 reaches the position illustrated in Fig. 3, that is,with the sides 11 folded fiat between the top and bottom, the endmembers 3.2 swing inwardly 90 degrees to lie flat upon the bottom asshown. It will be understood that the spaced slots or guideways 18 andtongues 21 at each end cooperate to prevent tilting of the bottom 13 toeither side, and insure that it will quickly proceed to its folded orcollapsed position adjacent the top. It is also important to note thatthe hangers 16 provide a means for hinging the end members 12 about axesspaced sutliciently below the lower surface of. the top 10 to permit theend members to be folded inwardly 90 degrees, or parallel to the topwith the bottom 13 and side members 11 therebetween.

When the parts of the container are in the position illustrated in Fig.3, the connecting hinge axis for the bottom sections 13a and 13b (hingesis substantially aligned with the pins 14 in brackets 15. It isimportant in constructing the unit to so locate pins 14 that when thebottom is collapsed the respective hinge axes for the top and bottom aresubstantially aligned. The final step in the collapsing or foldingprocedure is to grasp the hand grips 32 at the opposite ends of the unitand pull them upward and inward. This results in pivoting of the twohalves of the top about their pins 14, pivoting of the two halves 13aand 13b of the bottom about hinges 20, and folding and bending of theflexible webs 23 in the side members 11 so that in the final foldedposition (Fig. l) the two halves of the top are parallel with theremaining parts sandwiched between them. The handle bails or wires 31are formed to engage the corners of the respective top sections asshown, so that by grasping the hand grips 32 with one hand the containermay be carried without difficulty and without danger of accidentalunfolding. In a container in which is employed the modified couplingillustrated in Fig. 7, and hereinbefore described, the loose fit of theend of the pin 27' in the bell-shaped member 3%) provides the necessaryflexibility to permit folding of the unit about the hinge axis of thepins M. So long as the sides 11 remain partially or fully extended, thecoupling 30 will insure that the two adjacent panel assemblies (11a, 11cand 11b, 11d) move as a unit during folding and that the respectivehinge rods 27 will remain in substantial alignment.

To open the container to its expanded or Fig. 2 position, the procedureis essentially the reverse of that just described. The first step is toseparate the two halves Ida and 16b together with their connected partsto the laid out position shown in Fig. 3. The container is then flippedover by the hand grips 32 thus causing the end members 12 to dropdegrees to the position shown in Fig. 2. At the same time the bottom 13also drops causing the bellows-like sides 11 to unfold and begin tostraighten as is shown by the broken lines in Fig. 4-. The finalposition is achieved when the sides 11 are fully extended with thepanels 11a, 11b, 11c and 11d in substantially the same plane.

The air-tight cells 10a and 1% provide the means for floating thecontainer in the water, the sides and ends being submerged. Thecontainer can be used either as a storage tank for live bait or insteadto store the catch in live condition. In the latter case, the fish aredumped into the container through the top opening formed by thecomplementary recessed portions 100. When it is desired to remove thecontents of the container, it is lifted from the water slowly thusallowing the water in the interior to drain therefrom. Then the rod 22is pulled axially from the eyes of the tongues 21. By lifting theopposite end of the container, the contents are forced against the endmember 12 causing it to swing outwardly in the manner of an opening gateand permitting dis charge. Once empty, the end member 12 is swung backto its original position with the tongues 21 projecting through slots 18and the rod 22 is again inserted through the eyes of the tongues to lockthe bottom 13 and end member 12 together.

The buoyant construction of the container makes it admirably suited foruse in lake fishing or river fishing where a boa-t is used. Thecontainer, once expanded, can be dropped into the water and tied to theboat with a line. It thus provides a convenient and entirely safe placeto store the fish as they are caught. Likewise, the buoyancy of thecontainer insures against accidental loss since it will not sink even inthe collapsed portable state. The material of which it is constructed(virtually all metal) insures that it can be used for a long period oftime with little danger of accidental breakage.

It will be understood that certain features and subr combinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of theclaims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matterherein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to beinterpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a collapsible container, a rectangular top comprising two endabutting half sections hingedly connected along the line of abutment formovement about an axis spaced below the lower surface thereof, afoldable panel assembly depending from the side edges of each of saidhalf sections, each panel assembly comprising a rectangular, upper panelhingedly connected with the top section and a rectangular lower panelhingedly connected with the bottom edge of said upper panel, said panelsbeing substantially of equal length with said top sections, flexiblemeans connecting the two panel assemblies on the same side of saidcontainer together to maintain the intermediate hinge axes between theupper and lower panels in each assembly substantially in alignment withone another, a rectangular bottom member substantially parallel withsaid top and suspended between and hingedly connected with the loweredges of the respective lower panels of said panel assemblies, saidbottom member comprising two end abutting half sections hinged togetherabout an axis lying in substantially the same vertical plane with saidtop hinge axis, a pair of rectangular end members swingably dependingfrom the opposite ends of said top for movement about axes substantiallyparallel with the ends of said top, and means connecting the respectiveends of said bottom with said end members for vertical movement of thebottom relative thereto to a point near the lower surface of said top,said panel assemblies when said bottom is in the latter position beingfolded inwardly between said top and bottom with the upper and lowerpanels of each assembly superimposed upon one another and the top,bottom and panels lying in substantially parallel planes, and the hingeconnection between said end members and said top and the slidingconnection between said end members and said bottom being constructedand arranged to permit swinging of said end members inwardly to aposition adjacent and parallel to said bottom when said bottom is insaid latter position whereby said top, bottom and panel assemblies canbe folded once again about the top hinge axis to bring the half sectionsof said top into parallel arrangement with the remaining parts foldedand sandwiched therebetween.

2. A container as in claim 1 wherein said top sections are formed asair-tight hollow cells, the cells being provided in their abutting endswith recessed portions complementary to one another to form a topopening.

3. A container as in claim 1 including pivotal U-shaped handles securedto each top section, the handles being movable from a centraldisposition above the top to an extended position generally parallelthereto with portions of the respective handles crossing and engagingthe upper surfaces of their respective top sections.

4. In a collapsible container, a rectangular top comprising two endabutting half sections hinged at the line of abutment for movementrelative to one another about an axis spaced below the lower surfacesthereof, a rectangular bottom of substantially equal dimensions withsaid top comprising two end abutting half sections hinged along the lineof abutment for movement relative one another about an axis parallelwith said top hinge axis, bellows-like side members connecting said topand said bottom along the longitudinal sides thereof and adapted to befolded between said bottom and top on movement of said bottom towardsaid top, said side members being divided vertically into two sectionseach of equal length with said top and bottom half sections, the twosections on the same side being coupled with a flexible connection topermit folding of the sides about an axis substantially parallel withsaid top and bottom hinge axis when said side members are folded fiatbetween said bottom and top, rectangular end members hingedly dependingfrom opposite ends of said top, and cooperating means on the 0ppositeends of said bottom and the adjacent end members connecting the ends ofsaid bottoms to said end members for sliding movement of said bottomtoward said top between said ends, said means being constructed andarranged to prevent inward movement of said end members about theirrespective hinge axes until said bottom is disposed adjacent said topwith the side members folded flat between them.

5. A container as in claim 4 wherein said last named means includesvertical. guideways in said end members, tongues mounted on said bottomand received in said guideways, and means locking said tongues in saidguideways.

6. A container as in claim 5 wherein said locking means is removablyengaged with said tongues at at least one end of said container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS335,119 Flint Feb. 2, 1886 664,719 Brinck Dec. 25, 1900 882,184 WillardMar. 17, 1908 887,060 Boisvert May 12, 1908 1,054,561 Kennedy Feb. 25,1913 2,079,458 Leichtfuss May 4, 1937 2,539,260 McCurdy Jan. 23, 19512,714,465 Blair Aug. 2, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 166,124 Germany Dec. 28,1905 503,272 Great Britain Apr. 4, 1939

